Anthony was born of decent parents at Lisbon in Portugal. They gave him a godly training, and while he was still a young man, he joined an Institute of Canons Regular. However, when the bodies of the five holy martyred Friars Minor, who had just suffered in Morocco for Christ's sake, were brought to Coïmbra, the desire to be himself a martyr took a strong hold upon him, and he left the Canons Regular and became a Franciscan. The same yearning led him to attempt to go among the Saracens, but he fell sick on the way, and being obliged to turn back, the ship in which he had embarked for Spain was driven by stress of weather to Sicily.

R. The Lord multiplied the fruit of his labours and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait. * And gave him perpetual glory.V.The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.

R. And gave him perpetual glory.

V.Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.R. Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.R. Amen.

From Sicily he came to Assisi to attend the General Chapter of his Order, and thence withdrew himself to the Hermitage of Monte Paolo near Bologna, where he gave himself up for a long while to consideration of the things of God, to fastings, and to watchings. Being afterward ordained Priest, and sent to preach the Gospel, his wisdom and fluency were very marked, and drew on him such admiration of men, that the Pope, once hearing him preach, called him The Ark of the Covenant. One of his chief points was to expend all his strength in attacking heresies, whence he gained the name of the Heretics' everlasting Hammer.

He was the first of his Order who, on account of his excellent gift of teaching, publicly lectured at Bologna on the interpretation of Holy Scripture, and directed the studies of his brethren. He travelled through many provinces. The year before his death he came to Padua, where he left some remarkable records of his holy life. After having undergone much toil for the glory of God, full of good works and miracles, he fell asleep in the Lord upon the 13th day of June, in the year of salvation 1231. Pope Gregory IX enrolled his name among those of the Holy Confessors, and Pius XII, having consulted the Congregation of Sacred Rites, declared him a Doctor of the universal Church.

R. This is he which did according to all that God commanded him ; and God said unto him : Enter thou into my rest : *For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.V.This is he which despised his life in this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom.

R.For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.V.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.